NewsFrasor's fastball key to his success
Toronto (55-60) at Tampa Bay (62-54), 1:38 p.m. ET
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
08/15/09 11:55 PM ET
ST. PETERSBURG -- There are times when Blue Jays catcher Rod Barajas is content with repeatedly flashing his pointer finger, calling for fastball after fastball from interim closer Jason Frasor. When Frasor's command is on, his heater can be nearly unhittable."If he's locating it, he's going to be tough to hit," Barajas said. "I just think he's locating it better than what I saw last year. If I want it away, nine out of 10 times, it's going to be away. If I want it in, if he misses, he's going to miss in, which is what you want. You don't want to miss over the plate.
"He's just been able to locate it so much better and it's hard to hit a 92-95-mph, well-located fastball. He's really been doing well."
Barajas used this approach with Frasor against the Rays on Friday night, when the right-hander cruised through four hitters to pick up his sixth save of the season. Frasor threw 13 pitches, including 12 four-seam fastballs that registered between 91-94 mph. The first 11 pitches Frasor threw in the ninth inning were heaters.
The only non-fastball featured on that appearance by Frasor came on a 1-2 offering to Tampa Bay's Gabe Gross with two outs. On that pitch, the righty showed off the changeup-splitter hybrid that he added to his arsenal this season. Combine that new weapon with a sharp slider, and Frasor has developed into one of the Jays' top arms out of the bullpen this year.
"I'm not against throwing his split or his slider a lot," Barajas said. "Those two pitches have improved drastically. But ... he's got such a good fastball that I'm not afraid to throw it over and over again."
Sticking with the fastball also puts batters in a situation where they have to start anticipating Frasor's other pitches. Having three options has helped Frasor keep hitters guessing all season long, resulting in a 1.91 ERA and a 6-2 record over 42 1/3 innings. Frasor has allowed runs in just five of the 46 games he's appeared in.
Along the way, Frasor has held hitters to a .203 average, including a .139 mark for right-handed batters. Against the American League East, Frasor has posted a 1.35 ERA over 20 innings. He's been on a tear of late as well, allowing no runs and striking out 10 over 10 2/3 innings across his past 12 trips up the hill, dating back to July 10.
"This year, he's really taken to that [late-inning role]," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. "He's relaxed. I think it's confidence. He's got some confidence now and it doesn't matter who's out there, who he has to face, he seems to come in and get the job for us. He's just been outstanding all year."
Pitching matchup
TOR: LHP Marc Rzepczynski (1-3, 4.38 ERA)
On Monday night, the Yankees launched three home runs against Rzepczynski, who was making his second consecutive start against New York. The young lefty escaped with a no-decision after working just 3 1/3 innings -- the shortest outing of his career. Rzepczynski allowed four runs on seven hits with no strikeouts and one walk. Over his past four starts, the southpaw has gone 0-2 with a 6.16 ERA. Rzepczynski faced the Rays on July 7 in his big league debut, limiting Tampa Bay to one run over six innings of a no-decision.
Garza got roughed up Monday night, but the Rays came back to tie the score to give Garza a no-decision rather than his ninth loss of the season. He clearly has the best stuff on the staff, but harnessing his emotions continues to be a problem. Garza is 5-3 with a 1.91 ERA in eight career outings against the Blue Jays. Bird feed
Gaston said that left-hander Brett Cecil (left knee) and closer Scott Downs (left foot) are scheduled to take part in fielding drills on Sunday. Depending on how Cecil feels, the Jays will decide if he can make his next scheduled start on Thursday. Downs is currently on the 15-day disabled list. ... Gaston added that injured right-hander Shaun Marcum, who underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery on his throwing elbow last September, met with renowned arm specialist Dr. James Andrews last week. Gaston believed it was a routine check-up. Marcum will not rejoin the Jays this season, but the team is optimistic he will be ready to compete for a rotation job by Spring Training. ... With his eight-inning outing on Friday night, ace Roy Halladay has logged at least seven frames in 21 of his 23 starts this season. Entering Saturday, no other Major League pitcher has more than 17 starts of at least seven innings. The two exceptions for Halladay included an injury-shortened appearance on June 12 and a six-inning outing in his first start off the DL on June 29. ... Shortstop Marco Scutaro led off Saturday's game with a walk, giving him a Major League-high 30 walks to leadoff an inning this season. ... Second baseman Aaron Hill's 28 home runs are the most in a single season by a middle infielder in club history. Tickets
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• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Blue Jays (Ricky Romero, 10-5, 3.70) vs. Red Sox (Josh Beckett, 14-4, 3.10), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 13-5, 2.65) vs. Red Sox (Clay Buchholz, 1-3, 4.45), 7:07 p.m. ET
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
